Durham, Buffalo Split Doubleheader

DURHAM, N.C. - The first-place Durham Bulls split a home-and-home doubleheader with the Buffalo Bisons at the DBAP Thursday night to open a five-game set, falling in the opener 5-1 before rebounding with a 1-0 win in game two.

The bizarre twinbill resulted from a rainout on July 13, during Durham's only trip to Buffalo which was made up in game two of the doubleheader.

The Bisons took the opener, which was a Bulls home game, 5-1. The Bulls managed just four hits against four Buffalo pitchers, getting their lone run on a Jeremy Moore sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

By then, Buffalo had already built a two-run lead when two Merrill Kelly walks came around to score in the top of the fourth. The Bisons added to the margin in the fifth on Andy LaRoche's two-run double, and Kevin Pillar's RBI double in the sixth completed the scoring. Kyle Drabek (7-7) got the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits 2 1/3 innings. Kelly (6-4) took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits over four frames.

The Bulls earned a split with a 1-0 win in game two, as the squads combined to register just five hits. Southpaw Enny Romero (5-11) throttled the Bisons (62-56), allowing just one infield hit over six frames.

Durham (62-56) got all the offense it needed from the newest member of the team, as Nick Franklin, acquired in the deadline deal that sent David Price to Detroit, hit a solo homer to right field to break a scoreless deadlock in the top of the sixth. Josh Lueke picked up his eighth save, facing the minimum three batters in the seventh, while Kendall Graveman (0-2) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing a run on three hits in six innings.

The teams continue the set Friday at 7:05 p.m. as RHP Matt Andriese (11-6, 3.55) starts for the Bulls against LHP Sean Nolin (3-4, 3.02) for the Bisons.